Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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710. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the grant aid available for a company wishing to install a bio-mass burner instead of oil and gas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37759/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The introduction of a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a commitment in the Programme for Government and will be the primary support mechanism in the heating sector designed to meet Ireland’s renewable energy obligations. The aim of the RHI is to build on the progress already made in the renewable heating sector and to help reach Ireland’s 12% target by 2020. In 2015, 6.6% of heat was derived from renewable sources in Ireland. The proposed RHI scheme isaimed at supporting larger industrial and commercial installations outside of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) to change to heating solutions that produce heat from renewable sources. While no decision has been taken on the precise technologies to be supported, the use of biomass is one of the renewable heat technologies under consideration as part of the new scheme.

Before a final decision is taken on the renewable heat technologies to be supported, there will be an additional public consultation phase on the design of the new support scheme. The next consultation will be published before the end of 2016 and details will be posted to the Department’s website  www.dccae.gov.ie.

Before the RHI scheme is opened for applications, the overall costs and technologies to be supported will be subject to Government approval and State aid clearance from the European Commission. I hope to be in a position to announce the introduction of the new scheme in the latter half of 2017.